New Dad

Any suggestions or hints for a new dad to be? Date is getting closer and any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

It's like this, she's uncomfortable!
Help around the house! (laundry, washing up, cooking) she'll be tired and sore.
Understanding and extra cuddles, (she'll be hormonal.... oh yes she will) she'll be unable to control emotions she normally can.
A little extra? A foot massage will mean the world, it really will!

Do what ever she asked you too then don't get upset when she tells you your doing it wrong smile

I think the fact your asking shows you care so good on you.

Really though you need to ask her what she needs as well as pp said pick up some of the slack around the house as she will be feeling pretty tired, uncomfortable and maybe in pain as well.

Thindyn wrote:
Any suggestions or hints for a new dad to be? Date is getting closer and any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

Look after bubs so mum can sleep ( best thing mine ever did when we got home)
Because when your in the hospital sleeping for a new mum is impossible even when bubs is asleep

If your partner/ wife starts crying for no reason give her a big hug and talk about what she is feeling
And reassure her she is the best mother and partner and also if you yourself feel it's a huge change best thing to do is both talk about how you really feel
It really helps

Help as much as you can with cooking cleaning or just order out
And if you can keep visitors to minimum it's overwhelming being a new mum and dad and having to many ppl over

Even with all the loss of sleep enjoy your bundle of joy
And not to stress to really just relax as much as possible
Even when their really little and your not needed to feed due bf my hubby used to place her on his chest and let her hear his heart beat and she would fall asleep it was their bonding time toghther


Oh and babies cry a lot even when you have feed them changed them and they have had a good sleep
Check if they have wind Something I learnt the hard way

And Poopy Nappies are not that bad ( only when their still pooping and you are changing them) it gets messy but hey it's ok
And when all gets to much take a breather walk away then come back

talk with your wife/partner about setting up one thing that is just daddy time with bub. My husband has always bathed the kids since their first bath in hospital. In the almost 5 years we've had kids I think I've had to bath them maybe a total of 20 times, possibly even less, and those times were simply because he wasn't home due to work commitments. He loves the fact that he has something that is a special bonding time with our kids and I love the fact that bath time gives me 10-15 minutes to put my feet up and just relax.

Leisa.

I think, sometimes, that dads feel really unsure around a new bub, they are scared they're going to break/hurt the baby because they are so little.
My DD was premmie & only 1.8kgs, I encouraged DH to help out at cares (so changing the nappy, giving her a quick wash) and to do kangaroo cuddles. He didn't like to change her nappy becuase she was so tiny and fragile, but I was always there to help him and as we had limited contact with DD (she was in a humidicrib) it was a really important time to help us bond. I never got cross at DH becuase he was slower at doing things than me and this helped him to feel confident.
Encourage him to hold/ cuddle bub so that he gets use to it and as I bottlefed from 8 weeks, I got to help out with the feeding as well.

Hi all,

I've started a new facebook group called DIY dads. It's a group for dads (or prospective dads) to ask advice or to help out other dads. If you'd like to join, please feel free. Or if you know someone who'd benefit from networking with other dads, please spread the word; the more members, the better the resource.

You can join the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DIYdads/